Will my self harm hinder me?

[Njathind]

Right, I was recently in hopsital and have had LOADS of time to think things through.

I have decided that I really like the idea of helping other people and I wanna be a nurse or paramedic, not a plumber which is what I'm training in now, but with my current situation of suicide and a self harm things dont look good.

What I wanna know is once I'm better will this phase of my life stop me from being a nurse or paramedic?

Dunno if anyone would be able to shed light but...

... If you dont ask you dont get.

[YesterdaysNews]

I don't think your self harm should ever stop you from doing the things you want to do. Sure people may judge you for your scars or ask questions, but I don't think it'll physically prevent you from becoming a nurse or paramedic in any way, shape or form. If you want to reach out and help people then go for it.
Hope this helped a little, best of luck :hug:

[Fiction]

I don't think it'll stop you at all. In fact I was talking to a girl who had been in a hospital for anorexia, she said half the nurses there had recovered from eating disorders themselves, so I know that it's fine with eating disorders, see no reason why it would be different with self harm.

[Njathind]

Thanks guys, I know I wont be able to train in it or anything right now, but hopefull once i'm better I'll be able to train in this :D

Many Thanks

[Syvelocin]

Depends actually. Interviews don't go well when you come in with an armful of scars. Recovering from an ED is different since it's in the past. If you still are or used to self-harm however, the signs that you used to SI are more prominent than if you used to have an ED. I do know that nursing is possible with mental disorders if that's of any interest. My mum's bipolar and never had any trouble becoming or staying a nurse other than her memory problems due to medication.

I would highly recommend using scar faders until you get the scars to the furthest point of recovery and wearing long sleeves the day of the interview and preferrably a while into your job. Some jobs are easier than others to get into/be in while self-harming/having self-harmed. For example, the arts, or minor part-time jobs (I work at Starbucks right now). Nurse, doctor, pilot, psychiatrist, business man, etc, the more professional careers, will be a bit harder. Not completely impossible, but there will be obstacles.

[georgiamay]

well, my mum has bipolar, and she has never had a problem with getting a job, and she's worked in health care all her life, and she attempted suicide, and it's never stood in her way. Scars might be a problem in interviews, but if you can cover and hide them, I don't see it being a problem. You need to give people permission to view your medical history, and for most jobs, you don't need to give permission, because employers don't need to see it.

If you keep scars hidden, you won't be descriminated against. I don't think it will hinder you, if it does at all.

[Syvelocin]

Though sometimes, you can't hide them. Jobs with uniforms for instance. I haven't applied for any big jobs, but even in theatre I've been discriminated against and dismissed from the cast when a director found out, and even with the costume I was wearing you wouldn't think it would be a problem during the actual shows. But he dismissed me anyway, not to be mean but because he didn't want me there doing theatre but to focus on getting better. My current director though has had no problems with it whatsoever and has been quite supportive of me, even when my costume is short-sleeved and a dress to my knees... it really does depend.

[Njathind]

All really usefull information guys, many thanks. At the mo I intend to finish my plumbing qualification whilst I get better and then once I have proof I am better and have been for some time then I shall go for it. Besides a Uni course in paramedic science is 2-3 years, and I think I need A/AS levels to get in :(

Urgh, I'm sure I'll be able to work something out :)